Editing Tern (section)

{{short description|Family of seabirds}}
{{other uses}}
{{Featured article}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Automatic taxobox
 | name                = Terns
 | fossil_range        = [[Early Miocene]] to present
 | image               = 3-point tern (Sandwich, Common & Roseate Terns, St Mary's Island, Northumberland).jpg
 | image_caption       = A [[Sandwich tern]], a [[common tern]] and a [[roseate tern]] together, Northumberland, UK
 | taxon               = Sterninae
 | authority           =  [[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1838
 | subdivision_ranks   = Genera
 | subdivision         = 
*''[[Anous]]''
*''[[marsh tern|Chlidonias]]''
*''[[Gelochelidon]]''
*''[[Gygis]]''
*''[[Caspian tern|Hydroprogne]]''
*''[[Inca tern|Larosterna]]''
*''[[Onychoprion]]''
*''[[Large-billed tern|Phaetusa]]''
*''[[Sterna]]''
*''[[Sternula]]''
*''[[Thalasseus]]''
}}
[[File:Birds of Sweden 2016 07.jpg|thumb|[[Common tern]] in flight]]
[[File:Birds of Sweden 2016 08.jpg|thumb|Common tern in flight]]

'''Terns''' are [[seabird]]s in the [[family (biology)|family]] '''[[Laridae]]''', subfamily '''Sterninae''', that have a worldwide distribution and are normally found near the [[sea]], [[river]]s, or [[wetland]]s. Terns are treated in eleven [[genus|genera]] in a subgroup of the family Laridae, which also includes several genera of [[gull]]s and the [[Skimmer (bird)|skimmers]] (''Rynchops''). They are slender, lightly built birds with long, forked tails, narrow wings, long bills, and relatively short legs. Most species are pale grey above and white below with a contrasting black cap to the head, but the [[marsh tern]]s, the [[black-bellied tern]], the [[Inca tern]], and some [[Noddy (tern)|noddies]] have dark body [[plumage]] for at least part of the year. The sexes are identical in appearance, but young birds are readily distinguishable from adults. Terns have a non-breeding plumage, which usually involves a white forehead and much-reduced black cap.

Terns are long-lived birds and are relatively free from natural predators and [[parasites]]; most species are declining in numbers due directly or indirectly to human activities, including habitat loss, pollution, disturbance, and predation by [[introduced mammal]]s. The [[Chinese crested tern]] is [[critically endangered]] and three other species are classed as [[endangered species|endangered]]. International agreements provide a measure of protection, but adults and eggs of some species are still used for food in the tropics.